Explore the Blog
The latest articles on all things brand, major gifts fundraising and capital campaign management
Is Your Nonprofit a Good Fit for Brand-Led Major Gifts Fundraising?
Not every nonprofit is a fit for a brand-led major gifts fundraising approach. Here's what sets BrandRaise apart, and how to know if it's right for you. You're ready to get started building a major gifts program. Maybe you're starting from square one, or maybe you've...
What Happens When You Treat Branding and Fundraising as Separate
Discover why branding and fundraising are inseparable for nonprofits. Learn what happens when you treat them as silos, and how aligning your brand with your fundraising builds trust, clarity, and stronger donor connections. Most nonprofits think of “brand” as a logo,...
Why We Always Begin With a Brand and Fundraising Audit
Most nonprofits know they want a major gifts program, but not where to start. A brand and fundraising audit maps your gaps across our five-stage framework, so you know exactly where to focus first. What we hear most often when organizations talk about major gifts...
Mapping the Beneficiary Engagement Journey: A Tool Built for the People You Serve
Learn how a beneficiary engagement journey map helps you build an intentional experience for the people you serve, so you can meet them exactly where they are. Most organizations can easily explain who they serve, and quickly rattle off the program(s) or service(s)...
End-of-Year Fundraising Prep: A Step-by-Step Guide for Nonprofits
End-of-year fundraising doesn’t have to be a scramble. Learn how to plan with brand clarity and build lasting donor relationships this giving season. One minute you’re wrapping up summer programs, and the next you’re facing the busiest giving season of the year. It’s...
You Don’t Need More Capacity to Get Started with Major Gifts Fundraising
Think you need more capacity to get started with major gifts fundraising? Here's why the real starting point is internal clarity, not a bigger team. In our brand and fundraising audit questionnaire, we ask organizations what's keeping them from feeling ready for major...
Why Foundation Doesn’t Move in Our Major Gifts Fundraising Framework
Our five-step major gifts fundraising framework gives you a place to start, but the real work rarely moves in a straight line. Here's why Foundation stays fixed while everything else adapts to your capacity. Getting started with major gifts fundraising can feel...
Your Mission Statement Is Not Your Message
Your nonprofit core message and mission statement serve two different purposes. Learn why nonprofits confuse them, and how to build a message that connects. In our brand and fundraising audits, we ask respondents to share their organization's core message. The most...
How to Know If You’re Ready for a Capital Campaign
Before you launch your next capital campaign, make sure your nonprofit is truly ready. Learn how to assess your capital campaign readiness through clarity, connection, and capacity so you can lead with confidence and raise more than funds. A capital campaign can be...
A Board Member’s Role in a Capital Campaign
Board alignment is one of the most important variables in a capital campaign's success. Here's what your Board will be asked to do, and what readiness looks like before the campaign begins. If you are an executive director exploring a capital campaign, one of the...
Free Resource
Ready to take the guesswork out of what to do next with fundraising?
The Fundraising Monthly Calendar is packed with proven strategies, timing tips, and expert insights. It empowers both seasoned development professionals and newcomers to maximize every giving opportunity and work smarter toward their fundraising goals.